The Story of Cosmetics

Annie Leonard, of the Story of Stuff project, will be releasing of The Story of Cosmetics, which claims to expose the USD50 billion cosmetics industry’s use of toxic chemicals in everything from lipstick to baby shampoo-even chemicals linked to cancer and birth defects. Read more

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BHP Speaks Up On Fiery Death

A BHP spokesperson, who preferred anonymity, told Malaysiakini that the death of Florina Joseph’s fiery death recently was “a clear case of misunderstanding”. Read more

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Latest Developments with Malaysia’s Power Giant TNB

Perak residents are miffed that they may be shortchanged by Malaysian energy giant, Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB). The power company is said to be billing residents on alternate months, which allows for the imposition of a higher tariff, according to state assemblyperson, Chang Lih Kang. Read more

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The Story of Bottled Water

In conjunction with World Water Day on 22 March 2010, watch Annie Leonard talk about bottled water.

To learn more, click here.

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Ethical Shopping Is Embraced In Asia Pacific

Shopping with a conscience is taking off in the Asia/Pacific, with over six in ten respondents buying items that are either based on fair trade principles or are environmentally friendly. An overwhelming response with more than 80% of Thai, Malaysian and Chinese respondents bought items that are based on fair trade principles. Read more

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Cars In The News

Toyota

According to Reuters, Toyota Motor Corp will replace an oil hose in some 933,800 vehicles in the USA, due to the risk of a potential leak that could damage the engine if left untreated. The cars to which damage might occur are:

• Camry
• Avalon
• Rav4
• Lexus

The vehicles, equipped with V6 engines, might experience damage to the rubber portion of the engine oil hose, potentially causing oil leakage and engine failure, Toyota said in a document sent to US dealers and obtained by Reuters.

Safety issues have put Toyota under media and public scrutiny, forcing them to recall more than 8.5 million vehicles worldwide.

General Motors

News portal, the Malaysian Insider, has reported that General Motors Co is recalling 1.3 million compact cars in North America. The move is to address a power steering problem that has been linked to 14 crashes and one injury. The recall affects the 2005-2010 model year Chevrolet Cobalt and 2007-2010 Pontiac G5 in the United States; 2005-2006 Pontiac Pursuit sold in Canada, and the 2005-2006 Pontiac G4 sold in Mexico.

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigations in January after receiving more than 1,100 complaints of loss of power steering assist in the US Cobalt models. GM was reported to have said it told US safety regulators about the voluntary recall after concluding an investigation that began in 2009.

Hyundai

Bernama reports that Hyundai Motor Co is voluntarily recalling 515 sport-utility vehicles in the USA over a defect in the airbag system. The recall affects new Tucson sport-utility vehicles, produced in South Korea, from 10-30 Nov 2009, exported to the USA.

According to the news report, the defect involves the airbag system in the front passenger seat and may not properly protect a passenger in a crash. Hyundai has notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the USA of the defect.

This recall comes shortly after the company recalled some 47,000 units of its new Sonata sedan in the USA and South Korea over a glitch in the front-door locks.

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Toyota Under Fire From Malaysian Consumer Organisation

While earlier news reported that UMW Toyota Motor will be initiating a special service campaign to address the brake issue of Toyota Prius., the Consumer Association of Penang (CAP) has taken the local distributor of the Japanese brand to task.

Malaysiakini has reported to that CAP has detected faulty steering rack ends in at least two Vios models. This defect apparently causes the front wheels to go badly out of alignment.

However, UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd (UMW), the sole Malaysian distributor, claims that this is not a manufacturing defect. UMW was reported to have said that the alleged defects were caused by “an external impact to the front left tyre with sufficient force (which caused) the steering rack to bend backwards.”

Nevertheless, CAP President, SM Mohamed Idris, stated that, in the case of the first car, the steering rack end had bent upwards when the car started moving from a motionless position, while the second car’s steering rack broke into two as the car stopped at a T-junction.

UMW has been reported to have maintained silence on inspection reports by Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM) and Goodyear Marketing and Sales submitted by CAP. Both reports are said to have found no sign of external impact or evidence that the vehicles were speeding.

The CAP President added that Toyota Japan has placed the onus on UMW. These allegations come in the wake of worldwide recalls of seven Toyota models last year, including the Vios, for defects found in the accelerator and brake systems and power steering hose.

However, UMW issued an official statement in January, reassuring customers that Toyota Japan had cleared all models distributed in Malaysia of similar problems. According to Malaysiakini, the distributor was unavailable for comment, being closed until 22 Feb 2010 for Chinese New Year.

Meanwhile, in the USA, it was reported that a US House panel yesterday subpoenaed confidential company documents that a former Toyota lawyer has said prove the automaker routinely concealed evidence from the courts and federal regulators.

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